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Lexus bills the HS 250h as the first dedicated luxury hybrid. This oddly-styled compact sedan combines the platform of the European-market Toyota Avenesis with the powertrain of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the techno-gizmos of the Lexus RX, all wrapped up in an attractively-priced package that, frankly, makes little sense to this reviewer. Does the HS 250h work any better out in the real world? Read on.
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- Fantastic electronic gizmos
- Reasonable starting price
- Quiet ride
- Mediocre fuel economy (by hybrid standards)
- Awkward styling
- Small trunk with no fold-down rear seat
- First Lexus model available exclusively as a hybrid
- Trim levels: Base, Premium
- Price range (including options): $35,075 - $48,505
- Powertrain: 2.4 liter 4-cylinder/electric motor, 187 hp, continuously-variable automatic transmission, front-wheel-drive
- EPA MPG estimates: 35 MPG city/34 MPG highway
- Observed fuel economy: 35 MPG
- Best rivals: Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius, Lexus ES350
We all know what Lexus stands for: Cushy, quiet luxury cars that perform strongly and are brimming with the latest techno-gadgets. So why are they selling a pokey little hybrid that gets mediocre fuel economy and looks the same coming as it does going?
Don't get me wrong; the HS isn't totally un-Lexus-like. It's as quiet as a monastery, at least until the annoying little gnat of an engine spools up in a vain attempt to pick up speed. (It's quick for a hybrid, but not for a Lexus.) And technology-wise, it's the shizznit (are young people still saying that? If not, they should be), with optional gizmos like a driver-distraction sensor, LED headlights, and my favorite, a mouse-like controller for the navigation system, which blows away both dial controllers and my beloved touch-screens. The nav system won't let you program a destination while driving, but with Lexus Enform -- Lexus' answer to GM's OnStar -- you can call a live human being who will look up the address and download it to the nav system for you. Way cool.
But what, exactly, is the point of a compact hybrid that gets 35 MPG? That's pretty good for a luxury car, but by hybrid standards, it's a Hummer. The Toyota Prius gets 50 MPG. Ford's mid-size Fusion Hybrid gets 39. And unlike the HS, you can actually tell which end of the Fusion is the front.
The HS isn't totally without charm; frankly, I could see buying it for the techno-gadgets alone. That said, if you really want to reduce pollution and lessen your impact on our dwindling oil supply, you'd be much better off with a Toyota Prius -- it's better for the Earth and a lot more practical. And while the HS 250h is impressively inexpensive -- a shade over $35k for starters -- the Lexus ES350 delivers even better value-for-money. Yes, it uses more gas, but you could always stay home more. -- Aaron Gold
